Verizon, AT&T Broadband: ISPs Fight FCC Over Speed Definition

The AT&T and Verizon broadband definition seems to differ from what the FCC wants to call it. While the Federal Communication Commission is set to define broadband internet as 10Mbps (Megabytes per second), the wireless internet providers are imploring them to leave it at 4Mpbs.

It seems the top two internet providers in the United States are set on slowing your internet down. This isn’t the first time that Verizon had fought with the FCC over internet laws either. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Verizon attempted to find a way to get away with what is known as throttling.

Throttling is what happens when the internet provider purposefully slows down your connection. Some would say they do this in an effort to sneak more money out of their consumers, though Verizon denied it.

Both Verizon and AT&T broadband are priced about the same as well. Their connection speeds tend to be the same, although Verizon has a wider reach due to additional towers. It appears both of them are attempting to get more money out of consumers who use their bandwidth for things like downloading video games, movies, and music (hopefully after paying for them), or simply streaming video services like Netflix, who today are participating in a net neutrality protest, as also reported by The Inquisitr.

The FCC is taking the consumers’ side though, challenging broadband internet providers to offer higher usage rates by more than doubling what is the current standard. Even back in 2007, they discovered that internet providers are making large profits already.

AT&T wrote the FCC, asking them to reconsider.

“Given the pace at which the industry is investing in advanced capabilities, there is no present need to redefine ‘advanced’ capabilities. Consumer behavior strongly reinforces the conclusion that a 10Mbps service exceeds what many Americans need today to enable basic, high-quality transmissions.”

AT&T and Verizon broadband may be required to upgrade to meet the new standards. The problem with keeping bandwidth the same is that consumers are now demanding higher resolution video streaming and larger video game sizes due to the releases of the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Ultra HD TVs. The increase in visual definition will also require additional bandwidth to do anything else on the side.

AT&T and Verizon have asked the FCC not to change its definition of broadband from 4Mbps to 10Mbps http://t.co/aUfIRlkRlV

— Eric Nelson (@literaryeric) September 9, 2014

Verizon agrees with their competitor, and sent a similar letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler.

“The Commission’s inquiry seeks comment on whether to adopt a new speed benchmark, such as 10Mbps. The data confirm that the availability and adoption of higher-speed services continue to steadily increase, and it may well make sense for the Commission to monitor progress with respect to such higher-speed services. At the same time, the data confirm that services providing 4Mbps/1Mbps are still popular and meaningful to consumers.”

It seems that Verizon and AT&T’s broadband requests are mirroring what Ubisoft, the producers of the ever popular Assassin’s Creed series, claimed about what the consumer wants. People keep paying for it, so the corporation thinks the people prefer it that way.

Do you agree with Verizon and AT&T’s broadband definition, or do you think the FCC should push them to raise their standards?

[image via Vostit]